Comments on: 'His upside potential is to be that centerman that you can use in all situations'http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/
David Pollak and Curtis Pashelka on the San Jose SharksTue, 31 Mar 2015 20:13:00 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1By: gypsy magnethttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-197768
gypsy magnetThu, 23 Aug 2012 18:32:55 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-197768its soo painful being a sharks fan
]]>By: Tracy Timhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193388
Tracy TimSun, 24 Jun 2012 04:25:54 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193388Thanks for the report DP. GREAT piece.
]]>By: Wonderogrehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193375
WonderogreSun, 24 Jun 2012 01:47:35 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193375g-bum-man – Speed can be improved upon, but the improvement a player who is so far along can make is pretty limited. You can maximize what potential you have, but you’re not going to go from plodding to blazing. Pavelski has spent the last few summers working out with a well-known power skating coach, and while it’s definitely helped, if a player isn’t “fast” by the time they’re eligible for the draft, odds are they’re never going to become it. Yes, in some cases, players who are 17/18 may still grow, and that growth/strength may have a considerable impact on what they can do on skates, but for a guy who’s already 6’2 and who suffers from severe technical issues, I just don’t see a sudden development of speed to be in the cards.

Conversely, the willingness to go to the net and the ability to play in tight areas can be coached. You see players becoming better at playing in various situations / scenarios throughout their career all the time. How many guys do you see get faster over the course of their career?

]]>By: Wonderogrehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193374
WonderogreSun, 24 Jun 2012 01:16:09 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193374I’m laughing at the guy who’s all, “we traded Ehrhoff for a guy who hasn’t played blah blah blah.” No, we traded Ehrhoff as part of, in essence, the package for Dany Heatley.

Anyway, reading the comments by Wilson and the scout just reinforces what I said yesterday about his lack of speed, and, frankly, boggles my mind just a little:

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Burke dismissed the concerns, citing similar comments about Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture when they were drafted.

Yeah, and you know what, Burke? They were right to question their speed, as in both cases it’s what will probably keep them from ever becoming truly elite players, despite both of them being extremely talented and possessing of seemingly phenomenal hockey minds. I love Couture, and I’m glad we drafted him, but IMO the Sharks need to start drafting prospects who will be able to fill a first line role on a Cup-competing team (which, said he in wide-eyed innocence, is what ownership/management want this team to be, right?) rather than jack-of-all-trades, for-all-intents-and-purposes support players.

Honestly, I’d rather gamble that a speedy, skilled guy like Teravainen, who is only 17 (and is already bigger than Ray Whitney and about the same size as Boyle – both smallish, super skilled guys who’ve survive quite intact through very long NHL careers), gains some more size than that a big, smart guy with an “unorthodox skating style” learns to do something in the next several years that he hasn’t been able to in the last 18.

]]>By: g-bum-manhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193357
g-bum-manSat, 23 Jun 2012 19:52:10 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193357Speed, strength and English are a lot easier to improve upon than size, ability to play in tight areas, and willingness to get to the net, IMO.

Seems like a good pick to me.

I, of course, admit to NOT having deep hockey knowledge. Ironically, that makes my assessment just as good as anyone else’s. Especially anyone else on this blog! I am a Sharks fan. I don’t get paid scout talent. I am aware of my roll–which is a FAN. I am supposed to SUPPORT my team. Sometimes I get frustrated with the Sharks. SOMETIMES. Not ALL the time!

Thank you very much for your time…carry on!

]]>By: brucehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193351
bruceSat, 23 Jun 2012 18:23:41 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193351Thanks for the update DP. Very pleased with this class burke and co. Put together. Tierney is still 17 in his 2nd pro season. He’s playing, and learning the throws of the game on the 4th line, and still producing outstanding results for his team. Add in gems on D and another young winger with size in the QMJHL, I’d say the scouts did a thorough job this year.
]]>By: DumbPuck™http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193347
DumbPuck™Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:59:02 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193347Judging by results and reputation, Sandusky WAS a great football coach. Unfortunately, he was a deplorable human who used his POSITION as coach to take advantage of children. The prison he gets sent to should have a solid defensive system in place shortly…
]]>By: jk56http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193346
jk56Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:40:22 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193346and others are just as tired of the positive spin meisters. you know, the kind of guys who would tell you what a great coach Sandusky is.
]]>By: DumbPuck™http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193343
DumbPuck™Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:14:21 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193343They’re like ten year old boys who maintain that they “hate” little Suzy Swenson yet can’t leave her alone. If you can’t find anything positive about something, you should stop paying attention to it…
]]>By: David Pollakhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2012/06/22/his-upside-potential-is-to-be-that-centerman-that-you-can-use-in-all-situations/comment-page-1/#comment-193342
David PollakSat, 23 Jun 2012 17:13:46 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/?p=8410#comment-193342All,

Before things get closer to the edge, let’s ratchet down the name-calling.

One suggestion: Follow the lead of pro athletes arguing with officials. An umpire is never an idiot, or worse; a call can be idiotic, but the umpire himself is never an idiot. That gets you tossed.